Biology Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Global impacts of COVID-19 on education and research in healthcare and STEM: Analysis of case studies

Event Name/Location

9th Annual LSSF STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium / Virtual

Presentation Date

4-23-2022

Document Type

Conference Presentation

ORCID ID

0000-0002-9739-4039

ResearcherID

L-6078-2019

Description

Owing to the zoonotic novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, major threats have been faced by the world’s economy, social development, and public health. Education and research in the fields of STEM and healthcare are no exceptions to the global implications of the Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Social distancing guidelines were initially recommended to refrain from face-to-face operations for preventing the transmission of the virus. As schools and higher academic institutions implemented multifarious methods to effectively transition to remote/online or hybrid educational formats, the pandemic introduced further hurdles and necessitated designing, adopting, as well as evaluating the efficacy of new instructional approaches, especially for disciplines that require active, experiential learning such as healthcare and STEM. These effects are accentuated in less developed/developing nations or underprivileged communities where access to technology and reliable internet connection can be a challenge, making it difficult to attain education virtually. Nevertheless, the pandemic has propelled remarkable innovations in the education sector centering around these subjects. Additionally, COVID-19 has disrupted research and training in STEM and healthcare. With recurrent waves of the viral infection worldwide, fostering projects towards virology research, vaccine development, and healthcare management have become crucial. Continuing both laboratory and clinical research has also become onerous, with a decrease in the supply of resources and laboratory staff members. This comprehensive literature review encapsulates notable case studies highlighting the impacts of COVID-19 on education and research in healthcare and STEM on a global scale. Furthermore, the study presents strategies implemented to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic faced by research and education in healthcare and STEM fields within underdeveloped as well as developed countries. The analysis would help improve the content, delivery, and efficacy of education and research STEM and healthcare.

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